Transportation

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The ST3 sticker shock effect is real, and it is causing major upheaval in the Washington State House and Senate. Last November, the Sound Transit 3 Bill was passed by a narrow margin of approximately 55-45 percent, which approved the public funding of a massive extension of the public light rail system, costing the taxpayers of King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties around $54 billion over the course of the next 25 years. This extension has been approved because it will improve convenience of travel, help with Seattle’s historically bad traffic, and address environmental concerns. This $54 billion is being covered by higher property and sales taxes, but what has led to controversy (and multiple bills being looked at in Olympia) is the exorbitant car tab fees.

By JACK NISSEN Capital News Service LANSING — Where are Americans driving? Researchers from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute analyzed data from the Federal Highway Administration, and the results are in: City driving is rising, and it’s risen … Continue reading →

By ERIC FREEDMAN Capital News Service LANSING — One of America’s most scenic stretches of road, Brockway Mountain Drive in the northwestern Upper Peninsula, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Park Service recognized the 9-mile … Continue reading →

SEOUL — According to the statistics compiled by Ministry of the Interior and Safety of South Korea, one household owned an average of 1.02 cars in 2016. This data shows that most households in South Korea now possess at least one car. However, car owners are having a hard time with the expensive oil price of South Korea. As of Aug. 7, the average price of gasoline around the world was $1.02 per liter while that of South Korea was $1.27 per liter.

MacKenzie Carlock waits at a CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) station for the train to pick her up for work at Lush Cosmetics. Unfortunately, there is an issue with the train, which is common because she lives so close to Wrigley Field. She checks her watch to make sure she will still be on time for work. “I leave for work about 50 minutes before my shift starts to ensure that I am not late,” said Carlock. It typically takes Carlock about 30 minutes to get to Lush Cosmetics, which is downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue.

The poor road conditions have made commuting in Lansing difficult for many residents and employees who drive in the city. City Chief Operating Officer and Director of Public Service Chad Gamble is very aware of the road conditions affecting these residents and employees. “Certainly commuting affects their vehicle, the quality of the vehicle, the life of the vehicle, the safety of their trip, the time it takes them to get there; it’s something we’ve been working on for decades,” Gamble said. The slow maintenance of roads in the area is due to the lack of funding and high cost of maintaining roads, particularly in the state of Michigan. The annual street funding for the City of Lansing dropped significantly between 2009 and 2010 and has yet to make a comeback 7 years later.

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — In the Metro Detroit area construction is a very popular sighting. Well, actually in all of Michigan, construction is a popular sight. The road closures and the cluster of drivers effect commute times for Michiganders attempting to get to work on time every morning. It affects the people on the weekends driving to and from their destinations along the construction area.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — After a long wait, Uber and Lyft are finally coming to Buffalo on June 29. There are a lot of questions about the two ride sharing systems and how they will affect local taxi companies, such as Liberty Yellow Cab, because of their popularity. Airport Taxi is a company that drives customers to and from the Buffalo Niagara Airport and has a contract with the airport to be their sole car service. Now, those flying in and out of Buffalo will have the option to choose between Uber, Lyft and Airport Taxi. To compete with the convenient and popular Uber, Airport Taxi has thought about increasing their advertising and marketing on social media.

DETROIT — The Motor City’s latest streetcar, the QLine, had its grand opening on May 12, 2017. It was the first time a streetcar rolled down the streets of Downtown in 61 years. Spectators from the city and suburbs alike made their way to the city to be the first to ride the trolley along its 6.6-mile loop. The excitement was shared by Detroit sports teams such as the Pistons, Tigers and Red Wings, who sent representatives to the event. There were giveaways, deals, and musical acts present to entertain the 8,300 trolley-goers.

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — Virginia is well known for many great things. It is the birthplace of a nation, it is home to the largest naval base in the world, and has mass amounts of fascinting history surrounding it. However, this commonwealth is also known for something not so great: its traffic. Resident of Virginia Beach, Nathan Olle, commented on the traffic issues he faces day to day.

Environmental News from Great Lakes Echo

By MAX JOHNSTON
Capital News Service
LANSING — Many people consider carp to be a “trash fish,” but fly fishing for carp is popular in northern Michigan. This year though, guides have cancelled trips and lost thousands of dollars because they can’t find the fish.

By CARIN TUNNEY
Capital News Service
LANSING — Lake trout make noise in bed, according to new research by Great Lakes scientists. The species commonly growl, snap, quiver and thump while spawning, the study found.

In Case You Missed It

Summertime poses as the perfect opportunity for students to make and earn money for the up-and-coming school year but with more and more summer internships failing to offer compensation for their time students can struggle to make ends meet. “When I first got my internship I was so excited,” said Michigan State University pre-med student Ali Beydoun, “then found out it was unpaid and I got a little worried.